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The fourth- and fifth-grade challenge students at Lawndale collected 551 cans of food that will be given to the Helping Hands food pantry.
The 120 students collected the food by creating art out of cans and then hosting an art show in the school’s media center. Admission to the art show was a can of food.
Students could also buy the works they made by turning in a can of food.
“They have been given this gift and the ability to do some things, and they need to give back to society,” Lawndale challenge teacher Teresa Gregory said. “This is a good time for them to learn that.”
Students brainstormed different characters and scenes they could create with the word “can” in them. They used soup cans, drink cans and large canisters to create projects like “CANzilla,” “Eli CANning,” “Abraham LinCAN,” and “CANta Claus.”
Parents or classmates donated the empty cans to be used for the art work and students used materials like felt or beady eyes or pipe-cleaners to make their projects more detailed.
The “Toto, I don’t think we’re in CANsas anymore” project featured a tin man made of several cans, Dorothy – holding a purse and wearing red shoes – a lion, a scarecrow and even a tree made out of paper and cardboard.
The students also used crushed drink cans to make Christmas ornaments that patrons at the art show could buy by providing a can of food.
“It wasn’t easy,” fourth-grader Ana Acosta said. “You had to think about what you could do with a can and what materials you would need. Anyone can be a hero if they just try and put a little effort to it.”
The projects culminated a lesson the students studied about heroes and how every child can be a hero. The students exceeded their goal of collecting 500 cans.
“I felt like a great hero when we got 551 cans,” Lawndale fifth-grade student Justin Zosel said. “I feel like I couldn’t do anything greater. I wish I could see their faces when they get the cans.”
Fourth-grade students Maddy Harris and Gracie Hand echoed their classmates, saying they learned that even kids can make a difference.
The students also discussed how many people in Northeast Mississippi have difficulty getting enough food to eat.
“We talked about the facts of hunger with the economy and people being laid off,” Gregory said. “So many children eat breakfast and lunch at school and don’t get to have dinner at home. We talked about hunger so they knew the reason behind doing this.
“Some of them had no idea there were so many hungry people around here.”
Gregory teamed with teachers Sally Amos and Ann Lanphere for the project. Gregory said more than 100 people attended the art show.
The school’s student council also recently started a drive with a goal of collecting at least 100 bottles of cooking oil. Those donations will also go to Helping Hands.
“The students came up with a lot of ideas,” Gregory said. “I came up with the idea of having an art show and they took it much further than I could have ever imagined and that was fun to watch.”